Beet harvester with topper and top conveyor



Dec. 30, 1947. c. w. wALz E1' AL BEET HARVESTER WITH TOPPER AND TOP CONVEYOR Filed may s; 194s 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 s z I l J g 'l l 22 I I l' 23 I I I I I v l l I I I l I I 3 I l I l e I I I I l x n oLAuDEwALz INVENTORS CLARENCE T.

'- 'A ,"f EN A ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 30, 1947. c. w. wALz-rAL' 2,433,799

BEET HARVESTER WITH TOPP-ER AND lT01 coNvEYoR Dec. 30, 1947. c. w. wALz Er AL 2,433,799

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BEET HARVESTER WITH TOPPER 4AND TOP CONVEYOR Filed lay 3. 1943 6 Shasta-Sheet 4 'D.3o,1947.` v C,W,WA. Z SAL 2,433,799

BEET HARVESTER WITH TOPPER AND TOP CONTIEYOH -Friled May 3, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 8

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BEET HARVESTER WITH vTOPPER AND TOP CONVEYOR Filed lay 3, 1943 l6 Sheets-Sheet 6 l l i 420 i l n x INVENToRs cLAuDE-wwALz CLARENCE T.. RASMJSSEN .GLNJSEN specifically, it is a feature of this invention to formerly was necessary with machines in which Patented Dec. 30, 1947 BEET HARVESTER WITH TOPPER AND TOP CONVEYOR Claude W. Walz, Avondale, Colo., and Clarence T. Rasmussen and Howard F.

Ill., assignors to Deere & a corporation oi' Illinois Clausen, Moline,

Company, Moline, Ill.,

'Application May s, i943, serial No. 485,521

45 Claims. l

The present invention relates generally to agricultural implements and more particularly to machines for harvesting sugar beets and the like.

The object and general nature of the present invention is the provision of 'an improved sugar beet harvester having new and improved topping means for severing the tops from the beets and a new and improved means-for handling the tops after they have been 'cut from the beets. More l provide new and improved means for carrying the topping unit from a conventional farm tractor and a new and improved means for ad- .iusting the position thereof and for transmitting forward draft thereto.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of means whereby the knife that severs the tops of the beets While the latter are still in the ground is kept clear of leaves, streamers, tops; trash and the 'like while in operation, and a further feature of this invention is the provision of improved means for raising and lowering the topping knife according to the size of the beet approaching the knife. It is also a feature of this invention to provide mechanism whereby beet gauging means may move downwardly relative' to the knife, thereby permitting the knife to pass straight through a beet even though during the passage of th-e knife through the beet the gauging means moves away therefrom.

Another important feature of the present invention is the provision of means mounting the topping unit on a conventional farm tractor of the tricycle type whereby the topping unit may be propelled down a row of beets while all wheels of the tractor operate in the spaces between the rows. The principal advantage of this arrangement is that it is unnecessary to open a field by other means before using the beet harvester, as

l one or more of the wheels were required over a row.

Still further, a feature of this invention is the provision of means for receiving and conveying the severed tops laterally of the tractor, an additional feature being th-e provision of means for adjusting the top conveyor laterally of the tractor so that the tops from any one of several rows may be windrowed together, that is, the tops cut from any one of several rows maybe deposited in one and the same row, thus facilitating subsequent; loading of the tops for stacking or for removal from the iield.

A further feature of this invention is the provision of improved reversing gear making it posto travel sible to reverse not only the shifting of the top conveyor but valso the directionof movement of the top conveying means thereof. It is also a feature of this invention to provide new and-improved mechanism for controlling the application of power to the top conveyor, both for shifting the same and. for driving the conveying means thereof.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a'consideration of theI conjuncally shiftable top conveyor that is carried by the topping unit Figure 6 is a view taken generally along the line 8 8 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 `is an enlarged detail view, being a generally vertical transverse section taken along a line 1-1 of Figure 5, showing the mechanism .for controllably driving and shifting the conveyor;

Figure 8 is a view taken generally along the line B-8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a view taken along the line il-- of Figure '1;

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 7 but showing the parts in the position they occupy while the conveyor is being shifted laterally;

Figure 10A is a view similar to Figure 10 but showing some of the parts in section, Figure 10A. also showing a. modified form of certain parts of the conveyor control Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one ofthe beet gauging or finder wheels;

Figure 12 is a section taken along the line i2-I 2 of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing a modif-led connection between the beet topping knife and the finder linkage: y

Figure 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line |4-I 4 of Figure 4;

Figure 15 is a plan view similar to Figure 1,

@s showing a modified form of reversing gear incorporated in the driving connections between the tractor and the top conveyor; and

Figure 16 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the reversing gear box employed in the form of the invention shown in Figure 15.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 1, the beet harvester in which the principles of the present invention have been incorporated comprises, in general, three units, namely, the tractor I of the conventional farm type, a topping unit 2 s carried generally at the forward end oi the tractor I, and a rear beet-lifting and elevating unit 3. The present invention is not especially concerned with the particular details of the lifting and elevating unitv 3, the same being shown and claimed in the co-pending application nled May 3, 1943, by Claude W. Walz, Clarence T. Rasmussen and Robert D. Grii, Serial No. 485,526, to which reference may be had if necessary. The present invention is more particularly concerned with the topping unit 2 and the manner in which it is supported on the tractor with especial reference to the relationship with the rearwardly disposed lifting and elevating unit 3, as will be clear from the -following description. Y

' The tractor I is of more or less conventional construction, being a farm tractor of the threewheel or tricycle type having centrally disposed front wheel means 2', a narrow elongated frame or body 3, a rear axle structure 4 and a pair of laterally spaced rear traction wheels 5. The frame for the forward portion of the tractor is indicated in Figure 2 by the reference numeral 6. The tractor I is equipped with a power lift 1 having a, rockshaft 8 and a lift arm 9.

The topping unit 2 comprises, in general, a topping knife II, a beet engaging nder or gauge I2, andtop pick-up means I3, the latter delivering the cut tops to a transverse shiftable conveyor, indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral I4 and which, as best shown in Figure 2, is carried by the topping unit 2.

Referring iirst to the rear unit 3, the details of which are shown in the Walz, Rasmussen and Griff application mentioned above, the rear unit 3 is carried on or includes a frame I6 which is made up of a pair of generally longitudinally extending angles I1 and I8 connected together by suitable cross bars I9 and 20 and connected at their forward ends to a pair of vertical bars 22 and 23 which are rigidly bolted or otherwise secured to the usual attaching pads 24 formed on the rear axle 4 of the tractor. The vertical and horizontal frame bars are reenforced by diagonal braces 25, and the lower ends of the vertical bars 22 and 23 extend downwardly below the rear axle 4, as shown in Figure 2. A beet lifting unit 21 is carried by the frame I6 for vertical movement and is operatively connected to be raised and lowered by the power lift arm 9, as explained in detail in the co-pending Walz, Rasmussen and Grii application.

The topping unit 2 comprises a supporting frame means in the form of a sub-frame 3| which is made up of a pair of generally longitudinally extending bars 32 and 33 connected at their forward ends by a transverse bar 34. The rear ends of the longitudinal bars 32 and 33 are bent laterally inwardly, as at 35 (Figure 4), the rear portions being welded or otherwise secured to a cross bar 36 which comprises a U-shaped member having downturned legs 31 and 38. The rear endsof the bars 32 and 33 are bent at right angles so as to embrace the rear edges of the downturned legs 31 and 3B, as indicated at 39. If desired, the rear ends of the bars 32 and 33 may be bolted, as at 4I, to the U-shaped cross bar 36.

The knife II, which comprises the top severing means, includes a forwardly concave or curved cutting blade 45 secured at its ends to the forward ends of a pair of knife arms 46 and 41. The rear ends of the knife arms 46 and 41 are apertured to receive pivot bolts 48 and the portions ofthe knife arms 46 and 41 rearwardly of the pivot bolts 48 are connected together by a cross piece 49 which may be welded or otherwise secured thereto. The cross piece 49 receives knifepositioning means to which reference will be vmade below.

The beet-engaging or nder unit I2 includes a generally U-shaped member 5I that is made up of a pair of downwardly and rearwardly extending bars 52 and 53 and forward interconnecting bars 54. The side bars 52 and 53 are apertured to receive pivot bolts 55 that are carried at the lower ends of a pair of suspension links 56. {I'he upper ends of these suspension links 56 are pivoted to clips or the like carried by the cross bar 34. Thus, not only may the finder Wheel frame 5I pivot generally vertically about the axis defined by the pivotl bolts 55, but also the same may shift in a generally longitudinal direction by virtue of the swinging of the suspension links 56. The cross bar 34 preferably is secured to the longitudinal frame bars 32 and 3B by bolts 58 which pass through attaching plates 59 that are secured to the ends of the cross bar 34, as best shown in Figure 4. The lower ends of the side bars 52 and 53 are fixed to shaft-receiving journal castings 6I and 62, the latter carrying a transverse shaft 63. Also, intermediate their ends, the side bars 52 and 53 are apertured to receive a second transverse shaft 64. A plurality of beet-engaging nder wheels are non-rotatably mounted in staggered relation on the shafts 63 and 64, as best shown in Figure 4, the finder wheels being indicated by the reference numeral 66.

The teeth `61 on each of the inder or gauge wheels 66 are of special form best shown in Figures 11 and 12. The'base of each tooth 61 is formed by the rim 68 of the wheel, and the sides 69 and 10 are disposed in outwardly converging planes, whereby each tooth 61 is generally of wedge-shaped section. The tops oi the teeth are substantially flat, as indicated at 1I, and the advancing end of each tooth is beveled at an angle of4 approximately Ll-degrees while the other end 13 oiv each tooth is disposed in substantially a radial plane.

The advantage of this particular tooth construction for the gauge or nder wheels is that when the wheels are driven, in the direction 'of the arrow shown in Figures 3 and 11, slightly in excess of the ground speed .of the implement, the wheels pass downwardly through the leaves of each plant into contact with the crown but without'l having the leaves, streamers and the like catching on the wheels and without having the wheels cut downwardly into the beet crown. Having the advancing end of each tooth beveled at about 45-degrees prevents any tendency for leaves, streamers and the like from catching onto the wheels, and since the sides 69 and 1li of the teeth are tapered or angled, the wheels, even though they are rotated in excess of the ground speed, do ynot cut into the beet crowns any appreciable amount. The wheels 66, therefore,

Aeiectively und or gauge the tops of the beet.

crowns irrespective of leaves and the like growing upwardly from the crowns.

Ato the associated topping unit frame bar.

Sprockets 15 and 16 are fixed to the right ends of the shafts 63 and 64 and are connected to be rotated together by a sprocket chain 11. A third sprocket 18 is xed to the forward shaft 64 at the outer end portion thereof, just inside the right-hand topping frame bar 33, and a chain 19 is trained around the sprocket 18 and serves to drive the nder wheels 66. The chain 19 is driven from the top pick-up unit I3, as will be described below. As best shown in Figure 11, the hub 8| of each of the finder wheels 66 is provided with a shaft-receiving opening r82 that includes an oblong extension 83. The associated shaft 64 has welded thereto a lug 84 which is received by the hub etension 83, whereby the finder wheel is fixed to rotate with the associated shaft 64. Each nder wheel 66 is formed in this manner and each of the shafts 63 and 64 is provided with a lug such as the one indicated at 84 in Figure 1.1. By this means the finder wheels are constrained to rotate with the shafts on which they are mounted.

The gauge or finder unit- I2, which includes the driven wheels 66, is-connectedto adjust the vertical position of the knife 45-by linkage that affords a ratio of movement of the finder wheels to the movement of the knife f about 1.4 through 1.7 to 1. This linkage will nowv be described. A

pair of levers 9| and 92 are disposedon the laterally outer sides of the topping unit frame bars 32 and 33, and each lever carries a bracket 93 which is apertured so as to be mounted on a shaft 94 that forms a part ofthe pick-up unit I3,

the shaft 94 being supported by suitable bearings on the frame bars 32 and 33and extending laterally outwardly therefrom at its opposite ends. The front end of each of the levers 9| and 92 is fixed to a pivot casting 95 which receives the outer ends of the finder wheel shaft 64, as best shown in Figure 4. The rear end of each of the levers 9| and 92 is provided with a plurality, y

92 is a second pair of levers 98 and 99. The forward end of each of these latter levers carries a hammer strap IOI, and the latter, together with the forward end of the associated lever, is pro-V Y vided with a. plurality, preferably three, apertures in which the associated pivot bolt 91 is adaptedto be inserted. A stud |02 is carried by each of the levers 98 and 99 and is received in a bushing |03 that is fixed to the upper end of a swinging link |04, the lower end of which is pivoted, as at |05, By this means each of the two rear levers 98 and 99 is mounted not only for pivotal movement but also for generally fore and aft movement as accommodated by the swinging of the links |04. The rear portions of the two levers 98 and 99 are bent laterally inwardly and then rearwardly, as indicated at |01 and |08, respectively, these portions being rigidly connected together by a cross b'ar'I09, whereby the two levers 98 and 99 act as one member.

The rear ends of the two levers 98 and 99 are connected, respectively, to the knife arms l46 and 41 well to the rear thereof and appreciably behind the pick-up unit I3. The link connection between the levers 98 and 99 and the knife unit I I may take two forms, one of which is shown in Figures 3 and 4 and will now be described. A1 I welded or otherwise secured thereto and apertured to receive the eyebolt II2. A rod member I I5, the effective length of which may be adjusted by a turnbuckle II6, has its lower end section turned laterally, as at II1, and pivoted in an opening formed in the associated knife arm. The upper end of each of the rod members I5 is slidably disposed through the eye of the associated member II2, thus providing a one-way or lost motion connection between the parts 98 and 99 and the rods II5. The upper end of each rod member-I I5 carries a cotter or other means, such as a collar, for limiting the downward movement vof the rod members I I5 relative to the associated levers 98and 99, but the knife unit I I is permitted to have upward swinging movement, irrespective of the position of the levers 98 and 99, by virtue of the fact that the upper ends of the rod members II5 may slide upwardly through the eyes of the parts I I2. This upward movement is, however, limited by stop means which is indicated in its entirety in Figure 3 by the reference numeral |20. Preferably, such stop means cornprises a link I2I pivoted to the rear end of each of the levers 98 and 99, and the lower end of each link I2I is turned laterally and disposed in a slot formed in a lug |23v that is fixed to the upper section ofv the associated rod member II5. 'I'he length of the slot in the tw-o lugs |23 determines the permissive upward movement of the knife member II relative to the two levers 98 and 99.

A modified form of linkage which may replace the rod members II5 and links I2I is shown in Figure 13 and will now be described. 'A pair of levers 92' is pivoted to the topping frame 3| and at their rear ends are pivoted, as at |02', to the forward end of a pair of swingably mounted levers 99. In Figure 3, the pivots 91 are shown as adjustable but in Figure 13 the pivots 91 are not adjustable. The swingable mounting of the levers 99 is provided by swinging links |04'. A pair of rod members II5' are pivoted at their lower ends to the knife unit II and at its upper 'end each of the rod members II5' carries a generally triangular plate |26 which is provided with three slots |21' therein and an abutment section |28. A pivot bolt |29 maybe disposed in any one of three openings formed in the rear portion of the lever 99', and a stud I 3| is fixed to the rear portion of each lever 99 ina position to be engaged by the abutment section |28. The slots |21 and pivot bolt |29 form, in effect, a'pin-andslot type of one-way or lost motion connection between the knife unit |I and the levers 99.

VIn both of these forms of linkage, the action is as follows. When the finder traverses, for example, a large'beet that projects a substantial amount above the ground, the nder frame 5I swings generally in a clockwise direction about its pivot supports 55 (Figure 3). This results in a counterclockwise rotation of the levers 9| and 92'and, due to the pivotal connection 91, in a y clockwise rotation of the rear levers 98 and 99. 'I'his results in the upward movement of the rear ends of the latter levers, which upward movement exerts an upward pull through the associated rod members I'I 5 against the knife unit I I, raising the cutting element 45 a desired proportional amount.

Likewise, in Figure 13, the upward movement of the finder wheels results in a counterclockwise movement of the levers 92 and a clockwise movement of the levers 99. This also raises the knife vthrough the associated rod members II5.` In

both forms, the amount that the knife is raised by any given upward movement of the finder unit` may be predetermined by disposing the pivot 91 (Figure 3) in one or the other of the associated registering openings, or by disposing the pivot |29 (Figure 13) in one or the other of the slots |21 and the associated registering opening in the lever 99. It will be observed that the finder wheels 66 are disposed a slight amount in advance of the associated knife 45, from which it will be seen that the wheels are in a position to rolll'oif the beets while the knife 45 is still cutting through the beet. In order to permit the finder unit to drop down into a lower position immediately after it has passed over a beet but while the knife yet remains in an upper position in the beet, the lost m-otion connection-that is provided by the sliding rod connection ||2, ||5 and slotted member |23 in Figure 3 and the slotted connection |21 in Figure 13 is utilized. In other words, by virtue of the linkage just referred to, the finder unit may drop down a certain amount while the knife element 45 is still held in a raised position. Thisdownward movement of the finder is, however. limited so that there is no likelihood of their coming into contact with the knife element when the latter emerges from the beet whose top is being severed. To this end the length of the slots in the lugs |23 and thel position of the abutment element |28 relative to the lug |3| are such that the amount of lost motion betweenl the knife and finder is limited.

The top pick-up unit I3, that is rotatably supported by the shaft 94 referred to above, will now be described. The pick-up unit I3 includes a rotatable reel-like member |35 which comprises a pair of rotatable heads |36 and |31' that are fixed in any suitable manner to the shaft 94 in laterally spaced relation. A plurality of axially extending pipe members |38 have their ends received by and supported on the rotatable heads |36 and |31, each pipe member being rotatable therein. Secured to each pipe member is a plurality of top-engaging spring fingers |4| which, as best shown in Figure 3, normally extend generally radially outwardly with respect to the pick-up reel |35. A cam member |42 (Figure 4) is fixed to the topping frame bar 32 in generally eccentric relation with respect to the shaft 94, and an arm |43 is fixed to the left end of each of the finger-carrying pipes |38. A sprocket |44 is fixed to the left end of the shaft 94 and receives a driving sprocket chain |45 by which the reel member |35 is rotated. The arms |43 are controlled by the cam member |42 so that during the portion of the movement of the fingers 14| (Figure 3) past the knife element 45 and rearwardly and upwardly thereof the fingers are held in extended position. But when the fingers reach the forward limit of their generally forward movementthe arms |43 engage a portion of the cam member |42 that permits the fingers to be withdrawn or swing back generally radially inwardly. Opposite the end of the shaft 94 that carries the sprocket |44 is a second sprocket |41 over which the rear portion of the nder driving chain 19 is disposed, as best shown in Figure 3.

Normally, the reel unit |35 is driven in a clockwise direction, as shown by the arrow in Figure 3, and the fingers |4| engage the tops yjust after they are severed by the knife element 45. The fingers |13! are curved so as to engage the tops and sweep them rearwardly from theA knife element 45 and then upwardly and generally forwardly over the top of the reel |35. This action is aided by a. pivoted back rack |50 which consists of a. plurality of generally downwardly eX- tending rods 5| that are secured by clamping means |52 to a shaft |53 that is mounted for rocking movement in a pair of brackets |54 that are fixed to the U-shaped cross bar 36 and held in position by a plurality of springs |56 which at their forward ends are connected to brackets |51 rigidly secured to the rods |5| and at their rear ends to a plate bracket |58 by adjusting bolt means |59. These back rack rods |5| tend to keep'the tops engaged with the pick-up fingers 4| during their rearward and upward travel,

the springs |56 permitting the rods |5| to yield rearwardly to accommodate an unusual amount of tops. As best shown in Figure 3, the upper end portions of the back rack rods |5| are U- shaped, the rear ends extending downwardly below the clamps |52. A transverse stop rod |5| is carried by the brackets |54 in a position to be engaged by the ends of the rods |5| and thereby limit their forward swinging under the influence of the springs 56.

It will be noted from Figure 4 that the outermost spring fingers |4| are disposed laterally Aoutwardly of the associated knife arms 46 and 41,

and it will also be noted that the next inner fingers |4| are disposed closely adjacent the assof ciated knife arms. In order to prevent leaves, streamers and other trash from collecting on the rod members i5 (Figure 3), we provide trash guide arms |65, one for each knife arm. These trash guide arms |65 are curved generally in an arc about the axis of the shaft 94 and at their lower and forward ends are fixed, as by welding or the like, to the associated knife arms, as indicated at |54. The upper and rear ends of the trash guide arms |65 are unattached and spaced an appreciable amount from any adjacent structure. These trash guide arms 65 cooperate with the rotating fingers |4| whereby any leaves, streamers and the like that might otherwise become entangled on the knife arms are, guided by the arms |65, swept upward and rearward by the rotation of the fingers, away from the linkage ||5 and other parts until, when they pass ofl the upper ends of the guide arms |65, they are free to move with the tops generally for-l wardly onto the conveyor unit i4 that is supn ported by the topping frame 3|. The transverse top conveyor will be described below.

As the top pick-up fingers 14| sweep the leaves, tops and the like upwardly and rearwardly and then forwardly, the fingers, by the action of the cam |42 and arms |43, are withdrawn from the mass of tops and the like partly by cooperation with stripping means that forms a part of the pick-up unit i3. such stripping means just referred to comprises a plurality of generally circular bands |11 that are disposed about and in general supported by the pipes |39 and placed generally between the pick-up fingers |4|. Each of the stripper bands |1| is made up of a strap |13 of circular formation with its ends |14 secured together in any suitable manner. An extension strap |15 is secured, as by welding, to the ends |14 and to the circular part of the stripper, as at |16. A small lug |11 is fixed, as by Welding |19', to the forward end of each extension strap |15, and the rear edge of each lug |11 is formed at an angle so as to eliminate or minimize any tendency for leaves and the like to catch on the lugs |11. The lugs |11 rest on an angle |18 which, in turn, is carred by right and left hand brackets |19 that are respectively iixecl to the topping unit frame `bars 32 and 33. The outermost of the strip- Referring now to Figure 14,

assenso by or fixed to the angle member |18. Secured to and extending generally forwardly and laterally outwardly with respect to the pick-up unit are pairs of guide straps |85 which are fastened by attaching angles |86 (Figure 1) to the curved plates |83. These guide straps |85 are generally resilient and are disposed to extend forwardly and laterally outwardly over the top conveyor |4 for the purpose of urging the tops toward the forward side of the conveyor when the conveying element of the latter is driven in one direction or the other. The top conveyor |4 includes a generally transversely extending platform indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral |90. The platform |90 includes a pair of laterally spaced channels |9| and |92 maintained in spaced apart relation by a number of connecting pipe members |93 which are connected at their opposite ends to the webs of the channels |9| and 92, the flanges of which are directed laterally outwardly, as best shown in Figure 15. A bracket |94 (Figure 6) is secured, as by bolts |95, to each end of -each of the channels |9| and |92, and the laterally outer end of each bracket |94 is apertured to receive bearing means |91 in which end conveyor shafts |98 are mounted for rotation. The brackets |94 at the left end of the conveyor, right end as viewed in Figure 6, are slotted, as indicated at |99, whereby the brackets are adjustable laterally outwardly for the purpose of tightening a movable conveyor element of the conveyor unit. Said element, which is indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 200,.includes a pair of sprocket chains 20| and transverse slats 202, each of the latter having downturned ends 203. The pair of chains 20| are adapted to operate over sprockets 204 that are fixed to the shafts l 98. Disposed underneath the upper run or flight of the endless elevator element 200 is a. sheet 206 that is fastened along its edges to the upper flange of the channels |9| and |92. For the purpose of keeping the lower night or run of the endless conveyor element 200 from sagging. we secure plates 208 and 209 along the lower flangesof the channels |9| and |92 to serve as a support for the ends 203 of the slats 202, as best shown in Figures 2 and 6. Each of the plates 208 and 209 is provided with end sections 2| that are turned downwardly to serve as guides for guiding the slats 202 as they move around the sprockets 204 dur ing the operation of the conveyor.

The conveyor just described is supported on the topping frame 3| by means of a pair of rollers 2l5 each of which is journaled on a stud 2|8 (Figure 3) that is carried by and projects forwardly from the two supporting brackets |19 that carry the angle |18. The flanges of the rear channel |92 are'adapted to receive and ride along the rollers 2|5. At the forward side of the conveyor the front channel |9| is carried by four rollers, consisting of an outer pair .2 8 and an inner pair 2 9. The laterally outer .pair of rollers 2|8 are carried by the downturned end sections 22| of a transverse angle 222 which, as best shown in Figure 4,'

forms a rigid part of the topping frame 3|. The intermediate portion of the angle 222 carries the central conveyor-supporting rollers 2|9, the latter being mounted on studs 223 fixed to the vertical nange of the angle 222 in any suitable manner.

topping frame bar 33.

A side sheet 225 is fixed along its lower edge to the front angle |9| ofthe laterally shiftable conveyor platform |90. Preferably, the front angle 222 is secured to the frame bars 32 and 33 of the topping frame by means of brackets 226 that are welded or otherwise secured to the frame bars 32 and 33 and bolts 221 (Figure 4) which fasten the horizontal flange of the angle 222 to the brackets 226.

According to the principles of the present invention, the conveyor element 200 is adapted to be driven in either one direction or the other, and also, the conveyor as a whole is adapted to be shifted in either one direction or the other. This is for the purpose of disposing the tops at either one side or the other of the tractor and at different distances from the tractor whereby there may be deposited in one windrow the tops cut from any of several plant rows. A conveyor of this type therefore cooperates with the laterally swinging beet conveyor that is mounted on the rear frame I6 and is shiftable to different lateral positions at either one side or the other of the tractor, or directly rearwardly thereof, as shown and claimed in the above-mentioned Walz, Rasmussen and Griff application. The mechanism for driving and controlling the conveyor will now be described.

Referring first to Figure 5, a transverse worm shaft 235 is disposed longitudinallyof the conveyor platform and at one end is supported for rotation in bearing means 236 carried by a bracket 231 that is fixed to the right end of the rear platform channel |92. A gear 238 is mounted on the right end of the rotatable shaft 235 and meshes with a companion gear 239 fixed to the right conveyor drive shaft |98, whereby rotation of the shaft 235 rotates the shaft |98 and actuates the conveyor element 200, advancing the upper flight or run thereof either to the right or left along the upper sheet or table 206 of the platform, according to the direction of rotation imparted to the conveyor shaft 235. The other end of this shaft is supported in a bearing bracket 24| connected with the left end of the rear platform channel |92. The shaft 235 is threaded for the majority of its length and preferably is provided with ar triple thread in order to secure a rapid traverse when shifting the conveyor as a whole either to the right or left relative to the tractor. Gears 238, 239 are enclosed in a casing Optionally controllable means is provided for either rotating the shaft 235 so as to drive the conveyor element 200 or, acting through the shaft 235, to shift the conveyor toward one side or the other, as desired. Turning now to Figure '1 which shows the driving and controlling mechanism in detail, the reference numeral 245 indicates a bracket that is welded, as at 246, to the right hand The bracket 245 extends laterally inwardly over the top of the bar 33 and provides means whereby the right hand bracket |19 may be secured, as by bolts 241, to the topping frame. The bolts 241 are also employed to secure in place an upstanding bracket 248. A companion bracket 249 is fastened, as by bolts 25| to the cuter or right hand portion of the bracket 245. The two upstanding brackets 248 and 249 are thus mounted in spaced apart rela:- tion and receive therebetween a combinationvgear and nut member 253 having extended hub portions 254 and 255. one of which is threaded to receive the threaded shaft 235. The nut member 253 is supported by bearings 256 and 251 that 11 are carried by the upstanding brackets 248 and 249 and rotatably receive the hub sections 254 and 255. Byflvirtue of this construction, the nut member 253 is rotatable but is held against axial displacement by its suppOrt through the brackets 248 and 249 on the topping frame 3|.

As best shown in Figure 8, the shaft 235 is provided throughout its threaded section with a longitudinal slot 259 in which a clutch key 25| is normally disposed, The key 25| is also adapted t0 enter 9, notch 262 formed in the right end of the nut member hub 255 so that, when the key 25| is engaged in the notch 282, the nut member 253 is locked xedly to the conveyor shaft 235 and, when driven, serves to rotate the latter, and when the key 25| is withdrawn from the notch 252, the nut member 253 is capable of rotation relative to the shaft 235 and, if the latter is itself restrained against rotation, rotation of the nut member 253 will then serve to shift the conveyor in one direction or the other, according to the direction in which the nut member 258 is driven.

For shifting the clutch key 26| into and out of engagement with the nut member 255, we provide a shiftable clutch collar 285 having a groove 285 in which a forked member 251 is adapted to be disposed. The forked member 251 includes a rod extension 268 that is shiftable generally laterally through openings formed in the brackets 248 and 248. A lug 259 is secured to the rod section 288 adjacent-the downwardly extending forked section 261 so as to provide a space therebetween to receive the lower end 21| (Figure 9) of a control arm 212. the upper portion 213 of which is swingably supported in an eyebolt 214 which is carried for adjustment laterally by the brackets 248 and 249 and secured in different positions ci adjustment by nuts 215. The control arm 212 includes a shank section 216 that extends upwardly and rearwardly and, as best shown in Figure 2, terminates in a handle 211 disposed adjacent the operators station on the tractor l. Preferably, the clutch controlling member 215 is mounted ad jacent the upper end of an angle 219 that forms a part of the bracing structure connecting the rear frame |5 with the tractor. By rocking the ann 22 in one direction or the other, the key 22| is shifted into or withdrawn from the notch 252 on the hub 255 of the nut member 253.

The shlftable collar 255 is mounted on a stop sleeve 28| which is carried loosely by the shaft 235 to the right of the hub 255. The sleeve 28| is provided with an elongated notch 282in which the key 25| is disposed and'is longitudinally shiftable, as best shown in Figure 8. A flange 283 is also carried by the sleeve 28| and is apertured to receive a pair of bolts 224 that are threaded into the clutch collar 285. A pair of springs 285 are disposed about the two bolts 284. For normally urging the key 2M into engagement with the nut member 258, We provide a spring 288 about the left end of the horizontal section 258 of the yoke 26W. One end of the spring 288 acts against the bracket 248 while the other end acts against a washer 289 held in place by a cotter 29|.

A modified form of conveyor clutch is shown in Figure A which eliminates the iiange 223 and the bolts 2815 and springs 235. Referring new to this figure, wherein parts identical with those described above have been indicated by the same reference numerals. the'stop sleeve 28M is somewhat shorter than the stop sleeve 22H, but the slot 262 therein is o1 substantially the same length. The clutch collar 255e is the same as the clutch collar 255 described above except that an l2 aperture is formed therein to receive a pin 295 the inner end of which fits in a slot 296 formed in the inner end of the sleeve 28m. The length of the slot 295 is such as to permit the collar 265:1 to be shifted relative to the sleeve 28 la a distance suiiicient to fully disengage the key 25|, even when the sleeve 28|a is confined between the end ofthe hub section 255 and the bearing 235, which occurs when the conveyor has been moved the maximum amount to the left. When the conveyor has been moved the maximum amount to the right, a stop collar 291 (Figure 5) comes up into engagement with theend of the nut member 254 or the hub 256. In other words, assume that the operator rocks the control arm 212 in a counterclockwise direction (Figure '1 or Figure 10A). This will withdraw the key 26| and permit the nut member to rotate without rotating the shaft 235. The resistance to movement offered by the sprocket chains 20| and other parts is greater than the resistance to bodily shifting of the conveyor as a whole, and therefore, when the key 22| is withdrawn from the nut member 253 and the latter rotated, the shaft 285 remains stationary but the conveyor as a whole is shifted in one direction or the other. Assuming that the operator holds the key 25| in disengaged position for an excessive lengthpf time and the conveyor is shifted to the right, eventually the stop collar 29? (Figure 5) will come up against the end oi the hub 254. This locks the nut member against further rotation in that direction along the shaft 235 and, in effect, causes the nut member 253 now to rotate the shaft 235, driving the conveyor element. Thus, no harm can be done to the machine even though the operator holds the clutch disengaged for an excessive length of time. As will be described below, the nut member 253 can be driven in either direction, as desired, and assuming that the nut member is rotated in the other direction, with the clutch key 22| disen gaged from the notch 262 and held in that position for an excessive length of time, eventually the conveyor will be shifted to the left such a clistance that the bearing 238 comes up against the right end of the sleeve 28| (or 28Ia). This position is illustrated in Figure 10A. The function of the sleeve 28| or 28| a is'to thus stop the further traverse of the conveyor, since any rotation oi. the nut member 255i' after the bearing 236 comes up against the end of the sleeve serves merely to drive the conveyor element. Yet the nut member 253 can be rotated in the other direction and the clutchkey 26| released so as to enter the notch 262. Without the sleeve 29| or its equivalent, the excessive left hand movement of the conveyor would bring the bearing 236 up against the end of the key 26| and jam the same against the end of the nut member. This then would prevent the nut member from being ro tated in either direction relative to the shaft 235 and would therefore prevent the parts from ben Ving disengaged so as to permit the conveyor to be backed oli in the other direction.

The mechanism for driving not only the conveyor just described but also the top pick-up unit and the iinder wheels is best shown in Figures 1 and 2. Referring now to these figures, the tractor l is provided with a power take-off shaft 35| which carries a sprocket that drives a longitudinal shaft 382 through a sprocket chain 399 and a sprocket fixed to the forward end of the shaft 222. A pair of bevel gears 355 serve to drive a cross shaft 396 from the longitudinal shaft 382, and a sprocket 383i is mounted on the cross shaft over a sprocket 3|8 (Figure 1).

'end of an adjustable rod connection 346.

13 306 and is connected by a chain 308 with a sprocket 309 fixed to a transverse shaft 3I0 carried by brackets 3| I and 3|2 that are fixed to the rear axle of the tractor at the forward side thereof. Preferably, the right hand bracket 3-|2, as best shown in Figure 2, is fixed to the lower end of the bracing angle 219. Adjacent the left end of the cross shaft 3I0 a sprocket 3|5 is fixed (Figure 1) and serves to drive the sprocket chain |45 that extends forwardly and, as described above in connection with -Figure 4, is trained around the sprocket |44 that is xedl to the left end of the pick-up drive shaft 94. Adjacent its right end, the cross shaft 3I0 receives a sprocket 3|6 that drives a sprocket chain 3|1 which extends forwardly and at its forward end is trained Fixed to the sprocket 3|8 is the first gear 3|9 of a motion reversing unit 320. This motion reversing unit includes a swinging carriage 32| in which a second gear 322 is journaled together with a .third gear 323 that meshes with the gear 322. The gear 322 is mounted on a stud 33| on the swinging carriage 32|. The gears 322 and 323 are so arranged on the carriage 32| that by swinging the latter, either the gear 323 or the gear 322 may be swung into engagement with the gear section 324 that is formed on the nut member 253 (Figure 7). The casing 32| is adapted to be moved from a neutral position, in which neither of the gears 322 and 323 engage the teeth 324 on the member 253, into either of two optional positions by means of a hand lever 321 and carries the usual detent mechanism cooperating with a sector 328 that is xed in any suitable manner to .the topping frame 3|, such as by being secured by the inner nut 215 to the bracket 248 at its forward end and at its rear end to a bracket 329 (Figures 2 and 4) that is welded to and forms a part of the outside frame bar 33. A stud 33| is v welded to the bracket 329 and serves as a sup- Y port forr both the 'gear 3|9 and sprocket 3| 8 and the swinging carrier 32 Referring again to Figure 1. Va draft connection in the form of a draft frame 335 is pivoted at its rear end, as at 336, to a transverse member 331 carried at the lower ends of the vertical angles 22 and 23 (Figure 1).r The draft frame 335 is reenforced by cross braces 338 and is pivoted at'its forward end, as at 339, to the downwardly extending sections 31 and 38 of the rear cross brace 36 (Figure 3). A transverse angle 34| is secured at its ends to the side members 342 and 343 of the draft frame 335 and receives the lower The upper end of the'latter is pivoted, as at 341, to the forwardly extending arm 348 .that isvsecured to or forms a part of a, lifting lever 349 that is pivotally mounted on the angle 22 and carries the usual detent mechanism cooperating with a sector 35| fixed at one end tothe frame I6. A longitudinally extending link 353 is connected at its rear end to the hand lever 349A and extends forwardly and is connected at its forward end to an arm 354 rockable in a front frame 355 that 1 is carried by the tractor. Preferably, the front frame 355 includes a pair of longitudinal'bars 356 and 351 that are adapted to be xed to the sides of the tractor. as bestshown in Figure 1, and a laterally outwardly disposed longitudinal bar 358, the three bars 356, 351 and 358 being secured to an angle 359 which at its right hand end is bent rearwardly, as indicated at 36|. A rockshaft 362 is journaled for rocking movement in the rearwardly extended end 36| of the angle 353 and is supported from the tractor by a, pair ofxbrackets 363 secured in any suitable manner to the sides of the tractor. as best shown in Figure 2.'.A The arm 354 is secured to the rockshaft p 362. A pair of lifting arms 365 and 366 (Figure 1) are fixed adjacent the ends of the rockshaft 362 and are connected by downwardly emending links 361 with apertured brackets 368 iixed to the front angle 222 of the topping unit frame 3|.

Thus, by rocking the hand lever 349 in a rearward direction, the topping unit is raised through the upward swinging of the rear arm 348 (Figure 2) and the front lifting arms 365, the rear end of the topping` unit being raised by virtue of. the upward swinging of the draft frame 343.

Ihe swingingfgnovement of the draft frame 343 relative to the topping unit when raising and lowering the latter, is made useof for automatically raising and lowering the knife Il. Referring to Figuregg, a transverse angle 31| is connected to the'side bars 342 and 343 of the draft frame and generally intermediate its ends is apertured to receive an eyebolt 312 which at its lower end is pivotally connected to the cross member y49. A compression spring 314 is disposed about the upper end of the eyebolt 312 above the angle 31| and at its upper end bears against a washer 315 heldr in place on the bolt by a collar or the like. AV stop collar 316 is carried by the lower portion ofthe eyebolt 312 and is disposed a short distance below the angle 31| when the parts are in operating position. When, however, the topping unit is raised, the upward swinging of the draft frame 335 not only raises the rear end of the topping unit but, by swinging downwardly relative to the topping unit about the pivot 339, acts through the stop member 316 .to exert a downward force against the rear end of the knife unit swinging the front end of the latter upwardy. This insures that the front end of .the knife unit will be raised to provide ample clearance, but the lostmotion connection incorporated in the linkage between the finder unit and ther knife limits the upward movement of the knife so that 'it cannot be swung upwardly into contact with the i'lnder wheels. In operation, the eect of the spring 314 is to urge the knife unit downwardly at all times, except when the topping unit is raised. The weight of the topping unit and the conveyor carried thereby is at least partially oil'set by a pair of counterbalancing springs. One of the springs, indicated bythe reference numeral 311 in Figure 2, is connected between the draft frame 335 and a link 316 that is connected to the angle 22. At the left side of the tractor (Figure 1) a second counterbalancing Vspring 380 is connected atits rear end to the tractor andat its forward end to an arm 38| fixed to therleft end of the rockshaft 362. Y

In order to cut away from the beets to be harvested, anyrstreamers and large leavesso as to prevent overloading the t'op handling mechanism, we provide a pair of coulters 390, each coulter being mounted for rotation on a coulter arm 392 carried by a shank 393. The Shanks. of the coulters are fixed by clamping means 394 to a vertically swingable U-shaped coulter-supporting frame 395. flhis frame is secured at its rear end to a transyrse rockshaft 396 that is carried by the front ends of the front frame bars 356, 351 and 356. 'latter two bars are extended forwardly andfpooperate with a cross bar 398 15 to serve as a stop limiting the downward movement oi the coulters.

The coulters are raised automatically when the topping unit is raised by virtue of a connecand a spring 401 is confined between the rear set screw collar 408 and the swivel eye 405. 'Ihe coulter adjusting lever 402 carries the usual detent mechanism cooperating with the sector 40|. By pushing forwardly on the coulter adjusting lever 402. a greater amount of spring pressure can be applied to holding the coulters in their working position, yet when the lifting lever 349 is swung rearwardly, the coulters are raised into their transport position at the same time that the topping unit is raised into its transport position. Each of the coulter arms 392 carries a jointer 400 for pushing the streamers, leaves and trash away from the path of the finder wheels and the topping knife.

The operation of the form of the invention described above is substantially as follow Referring first to Figure 2 wherein the parts are shown in their operating position,the row of beets being dug being indicated in dotted lines and shown bythe reference numeral R. As the machine travels down the row of beets the rotatable iinder wheels, being rotated at approximately 25percent over ground speed, readily climb up on to and pass over the crowns of the beets, the peripheries of the finder wheels cutting down through the tops to find the crowns but not cutting into the beet itself to any appreciable extent. Small beets are of course contacted only by the lower wheels 66 but the larger beets are rst engaged by the upper wheels, but since both are driven, the finder readily accommodates and guages both large and small beets alike. As the finder climbs up onto a beet, the levers 92 are rocked in a counterclockwise direction, whichresults in raising the knife element 45 to the proper position to cut off the right amount of crown, the lost motion connection between the rear levers 98 and 99 permitting the finder wheels to drop down immediately they pass over the beet even though the knife is still engaged in the beet. This prevents breakage of the beets at the crowns and thus eliminates topping loss. The amount of movement of the finder Wheels with respect to the resulting movement of the knife is a ratio of between 1.4 and 1.7 to 1, although this may vary as desired. The clockwise rotating pick-up reel I3, with its topengaging fingers |4I, sweeps the severed tops rearwardly off the knife 45 and, guided by the back rack |5I and the trash guide arms |85, swings the tops, leaves and the like rearwardly and upwardly, and then forwardly over the stripper elements |1I, the forward movement of the fingers |4| just prior to their withdrawal by the action of the cam |42 serving to push the mass of tops and leaves forwardly. This action is facilitated by the fact that the forward ends of the strippers are held a short distance above the `platform angle |18, yet leaves, trash and the like do not tend to catch on the lugs |11 that hold up the ends |15, by virtue of the inclined or angled edges (Figure 14) of the lugs |11. The tops are thus forced forwardly onto the conveyor I4, where they are picked up by the laterally moving conveyor element 200 and delivered to one side or the other of the tractor. As lateral movement is initially imparted to the tops, whether in one direction or the other relative to the tractor, the resilient guide straps (Figure l) serve to shift the tops generally in a forward direction over against the shield 225, or at least in that direction, so that the tops doy not pile up along the rear side of the conveyor I4.

` The movable conveyor element 200 of the conveyor I4 may be driven in one direction or the other, as desired, by swinging the hand lever 321 into either of its end positions. Further, when the end of the row is reached and the outt turned around to pass down the next row, the conveyor I4 is shifted relative to the tractor so as to deposit the tops in the same windrow to which they were delivered on the previous trip. The conveyor I4 may be shifted by swinging the clutch 1ever,211 so as to move the clutch key 26| (Figure 7) out of engagement with the nut member 253, and then driving the latter in one direction or the other, which results in shifting the conveyor I4 as a whole. The shifting movement may be terminated instantly by releasing the cluch lever and permitting the spring 288 to reengage the clutch key 26| with the nut member, whereupon operation of the conveyor element 200 will be resumed without further attention on the part of the operator.

When the outfit reaches the end of the row, as just stated, the operator swings the hand lever 349 rearwardly so as to raise the topping unit into transport position. This is done just prior to the operation of the tractor power lift 1 because it is, of course, necessary to leave the lifter unit 21 in the lowered position until all of the topped beets have been lifted and deposited onto the -beet conveyor or elevator. During the lifting of the topping unit, the action of the upward swinging of the draft frame 343 relative to the topping frame acts to impart an additional lifting motion to the Aknife 45, thus insuring that the latter will not be inadvertently caught on anything in or lying on the ground when turning the outfit at the end of the row. The lifting of the topping unit also serves to raise the coulters 390 into their transport position.

Mention was made above of the fact that whenever the outfit has turned at the end of the field so as to be in a position to pass down and harvest the beets from the next row, the position of the conveyor I4 is readjusted in order to deposit the tops in the windrow in which the bee'ts from the previous row were also deposited. Itshould be mentioned at this point that, in addition, the operator swings the beet conveyor into its new position in order, for the same purpose, to deliver the beets from the next row into the same windrow into which they were delivered by the beet conveyor on the previous trip. Also, when the power lift of the tractor is actuated to raise the beet lifting unit 21, the beet conveyor (not shownifis also raised to facilitate turning at the end of the field. Depositing the tops from several beet rows into one windrow, which may readily be accomplished by shifting the top conveyor into 'different positions as .describe above, is one feature of the present invention that contributes materially to the proper handing of the tops so that they do not spoil, nor is there any soil or dirt mixed in with the tops. Also, by

17 windrowing them the tops may be placed so that it is not necessary to run overthem with a truck,

the tractor or the beet loader during the subse-A In Figure 15 we have shown a modified arrangement for driving Athe conveyor I4. In the form of invention shown in this figure, parts that are identical with those described above and shown in other ,figures are represented by the same reference numerals. Referring now to this gure, a reversing gear box or transmission 428 is carried adjacent the lower end of the angle 219, being rigidly secured thereto by means that includes a ller angle 42|. A shaft 3llla journaled at its left end in the bracket 3H carries the sprocket 309 and therefore receives the drive from the power take-off shaft through the driving Vchain 308. The right end of the shaft 3|0a is supported for rotation in the transmission 428 and carries two gears 422 and 423. The latter serves to drive a double idler gear 424 having a gear section 425 thereon that is adapted to receive a sliding gear 426 mounted on a driven shaft 421 also `iournaled in the gear box 428. Any suitable means, such as a handle 428 (Figure `may be provided for shifting the sliding gear 426. The idler gear 424 is supported on a shaft 429, and the three shafts 3i8a, 421, and 429 are so arranged that the sliding gear 426 may be disposed in mesh with either the gear 422 or the gear 425,

or the sliding gear 426 may be disposed in a position out of engagement with either of them. The right end of the shaft 421 extends outwardly of the gear box and carries a sprocket 43| that receives a driving-chain 432.

In this form of the invention the same conveyor I4 is used, including the rotatable worm shaft 235. However, the gear-nut member 263 (see Figure 7) is replaced by a nut member 435 which is similar to the member 253 except that, instead of having gear teeth 324 the member 435 is provided ,with sprocket teeth receiving the chain 432. It will be observed that the latter element provides a simple direct connection between the gear box 420 and the nut member 436, and that in this form of the invention it is not necessary to mount any reversing gear unit, such as the unit 328 shown in Figure 1, on the topping unit. Instead, the reversing gear is mounted rigidly on the tractor. Figure 15 also shows a slightly different construction for the knife controlling levers, differing from the levers 98 `and 99 (Figure 4) in that each of the levers 98a and 99a is made up of two bars connected together by a pipe member 448.

While we have shown and described above the preferred structure in which the principles of the present invention have been incorporated, it is to be understood that our invention is not to be limited to the particular' details shown and described above, but that, in fact, widely different e means may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects of our invention.

What we claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A beet harvester comprising the combination with a tractor of a beet lifter unit including a frame xed to the rear axle of the tractor, a topping unit disposed forwardly of said rear axle and Shiftable generally vertically relative to the tractor, a draft connection extending from said frame to said topping unit, said connection accommodating said vertical movement of the topping unit, a. generally transverse conveyor unit supported for generally vertical movement relative to the tractor by said topping unit, and means on the tractor for raising and lowering the latter and said conveyor unit.

2. In a tractor mounted beet harvester, the combination of a beet lifter unit adapted to be fixed to the rear axle of the tractor and including a frame having downwardly extending portions extending to points below said rear axle, a topping unit disposed forwardly of said rear axle and shiftable generally vertically relative to the tractor, a draft frame means pivotally connected at its rear end with the downwardly extending portions of said lifterAVA frame and at its forward end with said topping unit, and means for raising the latter including a lever adapted to be mounted on the tractor and link-connected with the front portion of said topping unit and a second lever adapted to be mounted on the tractor adjacent said rear axle and link connected with said draft frame means.

3. A kbeet harvester as defined in claim 2, further characterized by a colter-supporting frame adapted to be fixed to the tractor adjacent the front portion thereof and extending generally forwardly therefrom, means including a pair of laterally spaced colters pivoted to said coltersupporting frame and disposed forwardly of the front-wheels of the tractor, and means for raising and lowering said colters connected with one of said levers, whereby both the topping unit and said colters may be raised and lowered together.

4. In a tractor mounted beet harvester, a topping unit, means including a pair of levers adapted to be pivotally mounted on said tractor for raising and lowering said topping unit relative thereto, a colter-supporting frame adapted to be connected with the forward portion of said tractor, a pair of colters disposed forwardly of the front wheels of the tractor and pivotally connected with said colter-supporting frame, and means connecting said colters with one of said levers, whereby said topping unit and said colters may be raised and lowered simultaneously.

5. In a-beet harvester, a topping unit, supporting means therefor, means for mounting said topping unit on s'aid supporting means for generally vertical movement relative thereto, said topping unit including a topping frame and a` topping knife movably supported on said topping frame. means connected `with said supporting means and said topping unit for raising and lowering said topping unit relative to said supporting means, and motion' multiplying means connected with said topping knife and said raising and lowering means and operated when said topping unit is raised for shifting said topping knife generally upwardly relative to said topping unit.

6. In a tractor mounted beet harvester, a topping unit adapted to be connected with the tractor for generally vertical movement relative thereto; draft transmitting means for said topping beetnervester, e topping una comprising a knife member pivotally connected at its rear end with the rear portion of the frame of the topping unit, a beet engaging finder pivotally connected with said topping unit frame and means including a lost motionv connection extending from said finder to said knife, whereby movement of the finder inV an upward direction raises said knife, said lost motion connection accommodating downward movementbf said finder while said knife is held in an upperposition, as when passing through a beet.

8. A beet harvester as defined in claim 7, further characterized by stop means associated with said lost motion connection whereby the downward movement of said finder relative to said knife is limited so as to prevent one from coming into contact with the other.

9. A beet harvester as defined in claim 7, further characterized by means for raising said topping unit, and means actuated concomitantly therewith for raising both said finder anidsaid knife relative to the topping unit.

10. In a. beet harvester, a topping unitcomprising supporting frame means, a nder frame swingably connected at its forward end with the forward portion of said supporting frame means, a knife unit pivotally connected with the rear portion of said supporting frame means, a first lever pivotally connected with said supporting frame means at an intermediate point and with said finder frame at its forward portion, a second lever pivotally connected with the rear portion of said supporting frame means and pivoted to the rear end of said first lever, and a connection between the rear end of said second lever and said knife unit.

11. The invention set forth in claim 10, further characterized by driven finder means carried by said finder frame, a pick-up unit carried by said supporting frame meansV and including a rotatable member mounted for rotation generally about the axis passing through the pivot between said first lever and said supporting frame means, said driven finder including a part rotatable about an axis passing through the pivot between the forward end of said first lever and said finder frame, and a driving connection extending from said rotatable member to the rotatable part of said driven finder means.

12. In a topping unit for a beet harvester or the like, a vertically swingable topping knife member, a nder unit mounted for generally vertical movement, a pivoted lever actuated by Vsaid finder unit, a one-way connection between said lever and said knife unit whereby movement of said finder unit in one direction acts through said connection for positioning said knife unit, said finder being movable in the other direction without moving said knife unit, and means for limiting the movement of said iinder in said other direction relative to said knife unit.

13. The invention set forth in claim 12, further characterized by said one-way connection comprising apart pivoted to the knife unit and slidably connected with said lever, a slotted portion carried by said pivoted part, and a link pivoted to said lever and having an end movable in said slotted portion.

14. The invention set forth in claim 12, further characterized by said connection comprising a part pivoted to said knife unit and having a pin and slot connection with said lever, and a stop carried by said lever and adapted to engage a portion of said part for limiting the movement of said knife unit relative to said part.

15. In a topping unit for a beet harvester or the like, supporting frame meansI a topping knife unit pivotally connected therewith, spring means for urging said knife unit downwardly relative to said supporting frame means, a crop-engaging finder: and means providing a one-way connection for connecting said finder with said knife unit, said finder acting through said lost motion connection for raising the knife unit against the action of said spring means, said lost motion connection providing for downward movement of the crop-engaging finder without entailing downward movement of the topping knife unit.

16. In a topping unit for a; beet harvester or the like, supporting frame means, a topping knife unit movably connected therewith and adapted t0 be raised and lowered relative to said supporting frame means, spring means for urging said knife unit downwardly relative to said supporting frame means. a crop-engaging finder connected with said knife unit for raising the latter relative to said supporting frame means against the action of said spring means, means for raising said, topping unit supporting frame means and said finder relative to the harvester, and means operatively connected with said last mentioned raising means and including motion multiplying means acting against said knife unit through said spring means and connected between the knife unit and said raising means for raising said knife unit relative to said topping unit supporting frame means when said topping unit is raised.

17. A topping unit for beet harvesters and the like, comprising supporting frame means, a pair of generally forwardly extending laterally spaced knife arms pivoted to said supporting frame, a knife element carried at the forward ends of said knife arms, a top pick-up unit supported by said frame means and comprising 'a plurality of topengaging fingers movable rearwardly from said knife element and then upwardly away from said knife arms, and an upwardly curved guide arm secured at its lower end to each of said knife arms, saidnguide arms being disposed generally alongside the path of movement of said top-engaging fingers, the upper ends of said guide arms being free, said top-engaging lingers being adapted to sweep leaves and the like from said knife arms onto said guide arms and off the latter at their upper ends,

18. A topping unit as defined in claim 17, further characterized by means for raising and lowering said knife unit comprising links connected with said knife arms generally rearwardly of said guide arms whereby the latter and said top-engaging fingers serve to keep leaves and the like from catching on said links.

19. In a beet harvester, topping means including a generally transverse knife and a pair of generally forwardly extending laterally spaced knife arms to the forwardly extending portions of which said knife is fixed, and a top pickup unit comprising a member having top-engaging fingers, certain of which are disposed on opposite sides of said knife arms rearwardly of said knife.

20. In a beet harvester, topping means including a generally transverse knife and a pair of generally forwardly extending laterally spaced knife arms to the forwardly extending portions of which said knife is fixed, a top pick-up unit including generally rearwardly movable fingers, means for supporting said unit generally above said knife arms so as to position said fingers adjacent toand on both sides of said knife arms,

and means for driving said unit so as to move saidngers along/side said knife arms to clear beets, ltopping means disposed rearwardly of the coulters, and top pick-up means rearwardly of said topping means adapted to receiv-e tops therefrom, means for raising and lowering said coulters and topping and top pick-up means, beet lifting means carried at the rear of the tractor at said one side thereof and rearwardly of the rear axle thereof but in longitudinal alignment with said topping unit.

22. In a beet harvester, a topping unit cornprising frame means, a'topping knife including a generally forwardly extending` supporting member connected with said frame means and a cutting element connected adjacent the forward end of said supporting member, a top pick-up unit Icarried by said frame means and including a rotatable part carrying top-engaging fingers, said rotatable part vbeing disposed'so that said fingers move rearwardly from said knife then upwardly and forwardly, stripper means for removing the tops from said fingers during their forward travel, and conveyor means disposed forwardly of said pick-up unit in a position to receive tops from said stripper means.

23. In a beet harvester, the combination of a tractor having a source of power, a topping def, vice carried generally at the front of the tractortop pick-up means carried by the tractor geny I erally above said topping device in a position to receive tops from said topping device, a transverse conveyor carried by the tractor generally at the front thereof and forward of said pick-up means and adapted to receive tops from said top pick-up means, and means driven by said source of power for shifting said conveyor bodily transversely relative to the tractor.

' 24. An agricultural machine comprising supporting means, a conveyor unit carried thereby and adapted to be shifted bodily relative thereto, said conveyor unit including a 4driven conveying element, a source of power on said supporting means, means for shifting said conveyor unit,

means including a part carried by said conveyor unit and connected with said conveying element for driving the` latter, mechanism operatively connected between said source of power yand both said shifting means and said part of said driv'- Y ing means for reacting against one of said means for driving the other means, optionally, and.

means for controlling said mechanism.

25. An agricultural machine comprising supporting means, a conveyor unit, means carriedby Y said platform a worm shaft journaled for rotation on said platform and geared whereby rotation of said shaft serves to drive `said yconveyor element, a rotatable nut member journaled on saidcsupporting means and receiving said worm shaft, means on said supporting means for holding said nut member against lateral displacement, means for rotating said nut member, and

optionally operable means for locking said nut member to said worm shaft.

27. An agricultural machine as defined in claim 26, further characterized by said driving means Vincluding reversing mechanism whereby said nut member may be driven in either direction optionally.

28. Conveyor mechanism comprising means serving as a platform, an endless conveyor element movable over said platform, means supporting said platform for shifting movement relative thereto, a worm shaft journaled for rota- Vtion on said platform but held against endwise displacement relative thereto, said worm shaft having a longitudinal slot therein, a nut member journaled for rotation'on said supporting means and heldl against axial displacement relative thereto, said nut member being in threaded engagement with Vsaid worm shaft, gearing between said worm shaft and said endless conveyor elementwhereby rotation of said worm shaft in said platform serves to drive said vconveyor element, and controllable clutch means for optionof movement of the Yconveyor in either direction. Y

30. The invention set forth in claim 28, further characterized -by biasing means y acting against said clutch means for normally locking said nut member to said shaft, whereby driving said nut member serves to rotate said shaft and drive said conveyor element.

31,'IncOnVeyingmechaniSm, a platform, a worm shaft journaled for rotation thereon, an endless conveyor element geared vto be driven by the rotation of said worm shaft, a nut member receiving said shaft and in threaded engagement therewith, means restraining said nut member against axial movement, means for rotating said nut member relative to said shaft so as to shift said shaft and said platform,saidshaft having a Vslot therein, clutch means including a key held in said slot and engageable with a notch in said nut member for locking the latter to said shaft, whereby rotation of said nut member rotates said shaft andrdrives said conveyor element,

an abutment member at one end of said shaft, a stop sleeve surrounding said shaft at the clutch side of said nut member, Ysaid sleeve having an elongated slot receiving said key and accommodating movement of the latter into and out of engagement with said notch, said stop sleeve acting between said abutment and one end of said nut member for limiting the movement of the platform but accommodating movement of said key into either an engaged or disengaged position.

Vv32. In a beet harvester having top handling means including mechanism for severing the tops and then shifting them generally longitudinally, and a transverse conveyor positioned to receive said tops and adapted to be driven in either direction, the combination therewith of a pair of divergent top guiding elements carried by the top pick-up mechanism and disposed over said conveyor at the side thereof toward which the tops are delivered, said guiding elements serving to shift the tops on the conveyor toward the other side thereof.

33. In a beet harvester, a generally horizontally arranged topping frame, a generally U-shaped topping knife movably carried thereby and including a forward cutting element, a rotatable top pick-up unit carried by said frame and including fingers movable rearwardly and upwardly from said cutting element, and a resiliently mounted back rack disposed adjacent the upward and rearward path of movement of said pick-up ngers.

34. In a beet harvester, a beet engaging' gauge unit including a. rotatable finder wheel having a plurality of peripheral teeth, said teeth being of generally wedge-like formation, the forward or advancing end of each tooth being beveled.

35. In a gauging device for beet harvesters and the like, a beet-engaging wheel having peripheral teeth whose sides are tapered, one end of each of said teeth being beveled, the tops of said teeth being flattened.

36. A beet harvester comprising an elongated mobile supporting frame, a topping and pick-up unit, means connecting the front and rear ends of said topping and pickup unit with said frame intermediate the front and rear ends of the latter for generally vertical adjustment relative to said supporting frame, a top conveyor unit carried by and movable generally vertically with said said finder unit with said knife whereby pivotal movement of said finder unitserves to shift said topping knife, and means driving said finder elements from said pick-up drum. r

, 39. In a beet harvester, a topping and pick-up unit comprising a frame, a forwardly extending topping knife pivotally connected at its rear end with the rear portion of said frame, a rearwardly extending nnder unit pivoted at its forward end to the forward end of said frame, said finder unit including driven elements, means connecting the finder unit with said topping knife whereby the position of the latter is controlled by said finder unit, a pick-up drum rotatably mounted on said" frame adjacent the forward end of said topping knife, and means for driving said finder elements from said pick-up drum.

40. A topping unit for beet harvesters and the like, comprising supporting frame means, a pair of generally forwardly extending laterally spaced knife arms pivoted to said supporting frame, a knife element carried at the forward ends of said knife arms, and a top pick-up unit supported by said frame means and comprising a plurality of top-engaging fingers movable rearwardly from said knife element and then generally rearwardly along portions of said knife arms on both sides of the latter so as to sweep leaves and the like therefrom.

4i. In a beet harvester, a support, a topping unit comprising a topping knifemovably carried by said support, a top pick-up drum having top entopping and pick-up unit relative to said mobile F supporting frame and disposed in a position to receive the cut tops from said topping and pickup unit and including a driven conveyor element, and mechanism for driving said conveyor optionally in either direction so as to deliver the tops optionally at one side or the other of said supporting means.

37. A beet harvester comprising supporting means, a topping and pick-up unit carried for generally vertical adjustment by said supporting means, a top conveyor unit carried by said topping and pick-up unit in a position to receive the cut tops therefrom and including a driven conveyor element, a platform over which said conveyor element is movable, a worm shaft journaled for rotation on said platform and geared whereby rotation of said shaft serves to drive said conveyor element, a rotatable nut member journaled on said topping and pick-up unit and receiving said worm shaft, means on said topping and pickup unit for holding said nut member against lateral displacement, means for rotating said nut member in any vertical position of the topping and pick-up unit, and optionally operable means for locking said nut member to said worm shaft. A

38. In a beet harvester, a topping and pick-up unit Acomprising a topping frame, a transverse top conveyor unit carried by said frame, a swingably mounted topping knife pivotally connected with said frame adjacent the rear end thereof, a. pick-up ldrum disposed generally rearwardly of said knife and of said top conveyor unit, a finder unit pivotally connected with the front portion 'of said topping frame, said nder unit comprising rotatable elements, means interconnecting gaging fingers, means mounting said drum on said support above and generally rearwardly of said topping knife, a top conveyor carried by said support and disposed generally forwardly of said drum and receiving tops from the drum as the top engaging fingers sweep the tops upwardly then forwardly over to said conveyor, and means serving as a back rack mounted on said support and disposed rearwardly of said topping drum for keeping the tops engaged with said top engaging fingers as the latter move upwardly and rearwardly from said topping knife, and means for driving said drum and conveyor.

42. The invention set forth in claim 41, further characterized by said topping unit including a frame in which said topping drum is rotatably mounted, and said back rack means being pivoted in said frame and having lower portions swingable toward and away from said topping drum on the rear side thereof.

43. An agricultural machine comprising a support, a conveyor platform shiftably carried by against longitudinal displacement relative to said shiftable frame means for rotating said shaft. optionally operable means for holding said shaft against'rotation, and means acting against said shaft when the latter is held against rotation for shifting said frame relative to said support.

45. A topping unit for beet harvesters and the like, comprising supporting frame means, a pair of generally forwardly extending laterally spaeedY Houter sides of the latter so as to sweep leaves and the like therefrom.

CLAUDE W. WALZ. CLARENCE T. RASMUSSEN. HOWARD F. CLAUSEN. l

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Y Date v 922,084 Carroll May 18, 1909 2,308,392 Roepke Jan. 12, 1943 769,947 Kramer Sept. 13, 1904 1,086,522 Gilman Feb. 10, 1914 774,520 Hewitt Nov. 8, 1904 Number Number Name Date Oppenheim June 10, 1930 Barton June 4, 1918 Goodfellow Oct. 16, 1906 Carr Aug. 3, 1915 Wlttenburg Mar. 3, 1914 Leech Nov. 3, 1931 Newlon 1 Aug. 24, 1909 Tussing Oct. 22, 1918 Smith May 18, 1915 Morkovski Oct. 16, 1934 Frankman v June 16, 1908 McCormick 1 Feb. 23, 1909 Gettelmann Apr. 27, 1909 Bohman Nov. 4, 1924 Devey July 18, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Nov. 29,1921

(Addition 24,127 to 498,024)

Austria Apr. 10, 1903 France Dec. 11, 1913 Germany Oct. 17, 1913 

